What is "xanthic acid"

Xanthic \Xan"thic\, a. [Gr. xanqo`s yellow: cf. F. xanthique.]

1. Tending toward a yellow color, or to one of those colors, green being excepted, in which yellow is a constituent, as scarlet, orange, etc.

2. (Chem.)

   1. Possessing, imparting, or producing a yellow color; as, xanthic acid.

   2. Of or pertaining to xanthic acid, or its compounds; xanthogenic.

   3. Of or pertaining to xanthin.

      Xanthic acid (Chem.), a heavy, astringent, colorless oil, C2H5O.CS.SH, having a pungent odor. It is produced by leading carbon disulphide into a hot alcoholic solution of potassium hydroxide. So called from the yellow color of many of its salts. Called also xanthogenic acid.

      Xanthic colors (Bot.), those colors (of flowers) having some tinge of yellow; -- opposed to cyanic colors. See under Cyanic.

n. (context chemistry English) any of a class of organic sulphur-containing acids of general formula ROCS₂H

n. any of a class of unstable organic acids containing sulphur